Abstract

The interest in ultrafast, high repetition-rate laser sources continues to develop as a result of their growing usefulness, particularly in broadband lightwave systems.^1,2 The saturable Bragg reflector (SBR) modelocked fiber laser is a likely candidate in such systems because it exhibits attractive features such as self-starting capability, simplicity, and ability to generate femtosecond, high repetition rate pulse trains through soliton harmonic modelocking³ Unfortunately, data modulation is problematic with these lasers because they typically do not exhibit a fixed polarization state, and previous efforts for achieving such have been limited to low repetition rates with only a single pulse in the cavity.^4,5 Excessive timing jitter also arises in these lasers because even spacing between pulses relies primarily on weak, passive gain depletion and recovery effects.⁶

© 2002 Optical Society of America